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New Riff Distilling Review: High‑Rye Bottled‑in‑Bond Bourbon & Tours in Newport, KY

  • Writer: Davron Bowman
    Davron Bowman
  • Nov 2
  • 5 min read

Where: Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati.


What to expect: A modern, light-filled distillery that feels equal parts contemporary sophistication and Kentucky soul- polished, architectural, and built with reverence for bourbon’s storied past.


New Riffs flagship bourbon line

First impressions: modern craft meets heritage

Step inside New Riff Distilling and you’re surrounded by gleaming copper, elegant lines, and a warmth that feels unmistakably Kentucky. The space is modern, but the air carries a quiet sense of heritage- the kind that comes from deep respect for process and craft.


From the moment you enter, it’s clear that New Riff was designed not just to make whiskey, but to celebrate it- to create an environment where each pour feels connected to both the legacy of bourbon and its future evolution.


Who they are (in 60 seconds)

New Riff is an independent, family-owned distillery founded in 2014 in Newport, Kentucky. The phrase on their bottles—“A New Riff on an Old Tradition”—is more than branding. It captures their philosophy: honor the Kentucky playbook (sour mash, proper aging, real transparency) while giving themselves permission to innovate.


Their lineup includes bourbon, rye, single malt, and gin, but the calling card is the commitment to Bottled-in-Bond standards and non-chill-filtered releases across core expressions, choices that preserve character and mouthfeel and signal confidence in the whiskey itself.


The entrance to New Riff Distillery in Newport Aquarium.

The experience: part tour, part discovery

New Riff’s campus is designed to be visitor-forward. You’ll see the working stills, learn what sour mash actually is (and why it matters), and get a through-line from grains to barrel to glass. The distillery’s location is a stone’s throw from Cincinnati- making it an easy add-on to any Bourbon Trail itinerary, especially if you’re exploring Northern Kentucky’s growing scene.


If you’re lucky enough to attend or book a Single Barrel Selection experience, you’ll taste side-by-side samples, explore how wood and time shape aroma and texture, and watch the group’s preferences converge (or occasionally debate) into a final pick.


New Riff bottles these selections at barrel proof, without chill filtration, so what you tasted is what you take home—only now in glass.


A recently sealed barrel from New Riffs Single Barrel Program, Newport, KY

Why New Riff stands out


1) Bottled-in-Bond as a baseline

A lot of distilleries release bottled-in-bond as a special edition; at New Riff, it’s a core standard that shows up again and again. That means at least four years old, 100 proof, and aged under U.S. government standards—clarity and consistency built in. For drinkers, it’s shorthand for honesty and structure.


2) Non-chill-filtered texture

Skipping chill filtration preserves fatty acids and congeners that can carry richer mouthfeel and deeper flavors. It’s a geeky choice with tangible results in the glass—more weight, more finish—especially at bond and barrel proofs.


3) Water, terroir, and place

New Riff taps an alluvial aquifer via a private well beneath the distillery—cold, mineral-rich water that’s well-suited to mashing and fermentation. It’s a detail that reinforces the “Kentucky-bred” part of their identity and the role of local geology in classic whiskey profiles.


4) Independent roots with retail DNA

Founder Ken Lewis built one of the region’s landmark spirits retailers, The Party Source, before launching New Riff. That retail vantage point- understanding what enthusiasts actually look for on the shelf, has clearly influenced decisions like bond-level proofs, transparent labeling, and robust single-barrel offerings.


New Riff Distilleries line of high‑rye mash bill, Bottled‑in‑Bond standard and non‑chill‑filtered whiskeys + their copper still gin.

For first-time visitors: how to plan your stop


  • Tours & tastings: New Riff offers guided experiences that spotlight the full production flow and finish with structured flights—ideal for learning the house style. Being in Northern Kentucky, it’s an easy add if you’re staying in Cincinnati or doing a multi-day Bourbon Trail loop.


  • The bar: Expect a polished space where you can explore neat pours, single-barrel picks, and cocktails that let the whiskeys speak up. (If you’re the group’s bourbon fan, this is a comfortable place to bring whiskey-curious friends.)


  • Single Barrel Selection (by appointment): If you’re part of a group pick, plan for an immersive session with side-by-side barrels and plenty of note-taking. Selections are bottled at barrel proof and left non-chill-filtered.


The whiskey in a sentence (or three)

House style: High-rye structure with spice and lift, balanced by a Kentucky-classic sweetness; proof points that favor flavor.


What this means at the bar: Even standard pours feel confident and expressive, while single barrels can veer toward dessert-like richness or peppery brightness.


For collectors: The single-barrel program and periodic limiteds keep things interesting without feeling like a hype machine.


A decade in, momentum going national

From its 2014 opening to its tenth-anniversary milestone, New Riff has steadily grown from regional favorite to a name you’re likely to see on shelves well beyond Kentucky. Recent distribution expansions underscore that trajectory while keeping the core message intact: independent, sour-mash whiskey made to bond-era standards.


Photos from inside the Aquifer, a restaurant and tasting lounge located on the 3rd floor of New Riff Distilling, Newport, KY

A quick detour for the bourbon nerds


  • Bottled-in-Bond is not a limited one-off here; it’s central to the program, which locks in 100 proof, at least four years of age, one distilling season, and a bonded warehouse—useful controls if you care about consistency and structure.

  • Non-chill-filtered across key releases preserves fatty acid chains for a more tactile palate (and yes, you may see haze when you add water—wear it like a badge).

  • Single Barrel Program: Picks are barrel proof and NCF; no two barrels drink alike, and tasting flights during selection make that variance a feature, not a flaw.

  • Mashbill signals: New Riff’s high-rye approach is part of the house identity; community and retail listings often quote a 65/30/5 (corn/rye/malted barley) profile on single barrels, which tracks with the spicy backbone enthusiasts note. Always check the specific label for your bottle.

  • Aquifer sourcing: Process water comes from an alluvial aquifer via a dedicated well—one of those quietly consequential choices for fermentation health and flavor stability.



Rooftop views of the Kentucky river and bridge crossing from Northern Kentucky over into Cincinnatti, Ohio, as seen from New Riff Distilling.

Why we’ll be back

New Riff feels like a distillery you can grow with: approachable enough for a first pour, detailed enough for deep dives, and confident enough to let single barrels tell their own stories.


As we continue exploring Northern Kentucky’s whiskey landscape, expect follow-ups that zoom in on fermentation choices, barrel management philosophies, and how the team thinks about their expanding single-malt program (including their super secret exclusive release room.)


For now, if you’re planning a bourbon trip that balances education, access, passion and excitment, New Riff should sit near the top of your list.



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